What Is Beyond Pesticides?

Mission

Beyond Pesticides (formerly National Coalition Against the Misuse of Pesticides) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., which works with allies in protecting public health and the environment to lead the transition to a world free of toxic pesticides. The founders, who established Beyond Pesticides as a nonprofit membership organization in 1981, felt that without the existence of such an organized, national network, local, state and national pesticide policy would become, under chemical industry pressure, increasingly unresponsive to public health and environmental concerns.

Beyond Pesticides believes that people must have a voice in decisions that affect them directly. We believe decisions should not be made for us by chemical companies or by decision makers who either do not have all of the facts or refuse to consider them.

Click on the picture below for a reflection on 35 years at Beyond Pesticides:

Goal

Beyond Pesticides seeks to protect healthy air, water, land and food for ourselves and future generations. By forging ties with governments, nonprofits and people who rely on these natural resources, we reduce the need for unnecessary pesticide use and protect public health and the environment. Beyond Pesticides provides hands-on services to the public and supports local action by:

identifying and interpreting hazards; and,

designing safe pest management programs.

With the information provided by Beyond Pesticides, people may not only be able to make informed choices and adopt practices that protect themselves and their families from unnecessary exposure to pesticides, but they will be able to effect changes on community-wide pest management decisions and policies that govern pesticide use, such as pesticide uses in parks, schools, for community insect control and along roadsides. Beyond Pesticides believes that people must have a voice in decisions which affect them directly.

Strategy

Beyond Pesticides provides the public with useful information on pesticides and alternatives to their use. With this information, people can and do protect themselves and the environment from the potential adverse public health and environmental effects associated with the use and misuse of pesticides.

Beyond Pesticides has historically taken a two-pronged approach to the pesticide problem by identifying the risks of conventional pest management practices and promoting non-chemical and least toxic management alternatives. The organization's primary goal is to affect change through local action, assisting individuals and community-based organizations to stimulate discussion on the hazards of toxic pesticides, while providing information of safe alternatives.

Beyond Pesticides has sought to bring to a policy forum in Washington, DC and state capitals the pesticide problem and solutions we have become aware of on a day-to-day basis. Beyond Pesticides exists to help make difficult, often daily, decisions about pest management and to make these decisions in a manner that protects human health and the environment.

Publications and Membership

Beyond Pesticides produces the informative newsletter Pesticides and You (PAY), which is published quarterly, provides in-depth articles and is a voice for pesticide safety and alternatives. Additionally, our Daily News Blog is updated every day, providing the most current information on pesticide issues. Beyond Pesticides has available publications to assist you with pest and pesticide related issues. Every year, the Beyond Pesticides National Pesticide Forum brings together scientists and activists from around the country.